P000503 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human Gavan McCarthy and Helen Cohn updated 2026-03-05 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000503b.htm person Holmes James Macdonald AACR2 26 February 1896 28 August 1966 Place of Birth Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland Place of Death Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia Geographer Macdonald Holmes was a leading Australian geographer and a pioneer in applied geography. He saw his discipline as the study of land in relation to people. His main fields of research included urban studies, regional planning and development, soil erosion and conservation. Such was his expertise that he was respected as an advisor to government on conservation and planning. In 1933 he participated in the Royal Commission into boundaries for Australian states. Among his most important publications were works on soil erosion; a text book for secondary school students; and a history of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the New South Wales branch of which he was instrumental in establishing. For over 30 years Holmes held the chair of geography at the University of Sydney and was instrumental in building up his department and raising the profile of geography. He was noted as a mentor of students. He actively participated in the wider scientific community, serving terms as President of the Linnean and Geographical Societies of New South Wales. The Macdonald Holmes Memorial Medal has been awarded since 1977 by the Geographical Society of New South Wales to recognise distinguished contributions in the field of geographical education in Australia. 1915 1919 Military service - First World War. Served with the Royal Navy 1925 1925 Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Glasgow, Scotland 1927 1929 Career position - Lecturer, Armstrong College, Newcastle, United Kingdom 1927 1966 Career position - Fellow, Royal Geographical Society, London 1930 1933 Career position - President, Geographical Society of New South Wales 1930 1945 Career position - Professor of Geography, University of Sydney 1932 1932 Career event - Elected Member (Geography), Australian National Research Council 1935 1935 Career event - Helped found N.S.W. Branch, Royal Flying Doctor Service 1935 1935 Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Glasgow, Scotland 1939 1940 Career position - President, Linnean Society of New South Wales 1945 1961 Career position - McCaughey Chair of Geography, University of Sydney 1947 1948 Career position - Vice-President, Royal Flying Doctor Service 1949 1951 Career position - President, Federal Council, Royal Flying Doctor Service Australian National Research Council (ANRC) (1919 - 1955)

Member (Geography) 1932 -

 Linnean Society of New South Wales (1874 - )

President 1939 - 1940

 Royal Flying Doctor Service (1928 - )

President, Federal Council 1949 - 1951

 The University of Sydney (1850 - )

Professor of Geography 1929 - 1945; McCaughey Chair of Geography 1945 - 1961

 Geographical Society of New South Wales (1927 - )

President 1930 - 1933; the Macdonald Holmes Memorial Medal has been presented since 1977

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Holmes, J Macdonald (1896-1966)

Trove

 'Holmes, James Macdonald', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Holmes, James Macdonald Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Journal Article: Obituary: James Macdonald Holmes Maze, W. H. Obituary: James Macdonald Holmes 1967 Australian Journal of Science 29 4 104-105 Journal Article: James Macdonald Holmes, 1896-1966 Powell, J. M. James Macdonald Holmes, 1896-1966 1983 Geographers: Bibliographical Studies 7 51-55 Book Section: Holmes, James MacDonald (1896-1966), geographer Walsh, G. P. Holmes, James MacDonald (1896-1966), geographer Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1996 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 14: 1940 - 1980 Di-Kel John Ritchie 472-473 Book: The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia: its origin, growth and development Bilton, John, in association with Brunt, Joan and Holmes, J. Macdonald The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia: its origin, growth and development Sydney Federal Council, Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia 1961 Book: Australia's open north: a study of northern Australia bearing on the urgency of the times Holmes, J. Macdonald Australia's open north: a study of northern Australia bearing on the urgency of the times Sydney Angus and Robertson 1963 Book: The Murray Valley: a reconnaissance of the Murray Valley and a new design for University of Technology Sydney regional organization Holmes, J. Macdonald The Murray Valley: a reconnaissance of the Murray Valley and a new design for University of Technology Sydney regional organization Sydney Angus and Robertson 1948 Book: Soil erosion in Australia and New Zealand Holmes, J. Macdonald Soil erosion in Australia and New Zealand Sydney Angus and Robertson 1946 Book: Descriptive geography for secondary schools Holmes, J. M. and Andrews, J. H. Descriptive geography for secondary schools Sydney Angus and Robertson 1932-1943 Book: The geographical basis of government specially applied to New South Wales Holmes, J. Macdonald The geographical basis of government specially applied to New South Wales Sydney Angus and Robertson 1944 Journal Article: James Macdonald Holmes 1896 - 1966 Thorpe, E. W. James Macdonald Holmes 1896 - 1966 1067 Australian geographical studies 5 85-6 Journal Article: An intimate history of leadership: Sydney University's Department of Geography, 1921 - 1997 Warner, R. F. An intimate history of leadership: Sydney University's Department of Geography, 1921 - 1997 2022 Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 144 255-70